Uptown plans massive construction to combat traffic

Money and plans are on the table to accommodate traffic congestion along Post Oak Boulevard by the end of 2016.

Uptown Houston TIRZ plans to construct a dedicated bus lane along Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown to accommodate future traffic. The organization has already earmarked $105 million from TIRZ allocations to the $204 million project. It will also seek federal grants to offset costs. The Texas Department of Transportation is currently considering whether it will provide $37.3 million for a portion of the project that will include adding new bus lanes to the West Loop.

Uptown Houston staff and local engineers have been quietly working on the proposed project for several years. It includes:

Proposed construction of two elevated bus lanes in the medianoffrom the West Loop from the Northwest Transit Center area to Post Oak Boulevard.

Widening Post Oak Boulevard to include two new bus lanes down the middle from Interstate 610 to Richmond Avenue.

New, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, with lighting and landscape flanking the boulevard.

A new transit center in Bellaire somewhere between Westpark and west of the West Loop (exact site to be negotiated).

“The project will take the buses out of the mix, creating dedicated lanes for them,” said John Breeding, president of the Uptown Houston District Association.

“We’re not going to reduce congestion,” he said. “We are going to maintain operations while allowing the area to grow. It’s vital to the growth of the area.”

The plan taps into the existing U.S. 290 and Interstate 10 Katy Freeway HOV lanes, allowing riders to use the Park and Ride lots along those corridors to the Northwest Transit Center. From there, an Uptown bus will take riders to Post Oak Boulevard via the West Loop on the proposed elevated dedicated bus lanes using the median of the West Loop.

Plans call for construction to begin in early 2015, with a completion date of late 2016.